prison
Prison (noun) means a secure institution where people are held, usually as punishment after being convicted of a serious crime, or while awaiting trial. Example: “He was sent to prison for armed robbery.”
How to use prison
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA locked institution for holding people convicted of crimes — or, more loosely, anything that traps or confines someone.
Word forms
prisoned past tense, prisons plural, prisons singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He was sent to _____ for armed robbery.
Etymology
From Old French prison, ultimately from Latin prehensio, "a seizing" — the same root that gives us "prehension" (grasping).
Synonyms
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Rhymes for prison
See all rhymes for prison →Frequently asked questions
What does “prison” mean?
The word “prison” means a secure institution where people are held, usually as punishment after being convicted of a serious crime, or while awaiting trial. In plain terms, a locked institution for holding people convicted of crimes — or, more loosely, anything that traps or confines someone.
How do you pronounce “prison”?
“Prison” is pronounced PRIHZN (/ˈpɹɪzn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “prison” in a sentence?
Here is “prison” used in a sentence: “He was sent to prison for armed robbery.”
What part of speech is “prison”?
“Prison” is a noun.
Where does the word “prison” come from?
The word “prison” comes from Latin. From Old French prison, ultimately from Latin prehensio, "a seizing" — the same root that gives us "prehension" (grasping).
Is “prison” a common word?
“Prison” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “prison” have?
“Prison” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a secure institution where people are held, usually as punishment after being convicted of a serious crime, or while awaiting trial.
What is the difference between a prison and a jail?
A jail typically holds people for short periods, such as those awaiting trial or serving brief sentences, and is often run locally. A prison holds people serving longer sentences after conviction for serious crimes, usually under state or national authority. The distinction is clearest in American usage; elsewhere the terms overlap.
What is the purpose of prison?
Prisons serve several aims: punishing serious offences, protecting the public by removing dangerous individuals, deterring crime, and ideally rehabilitating people so they can reintegrate afterwards. The balance between punishment and rehabilitation varies widely between countries and remains one of the most debated questions in criminal justice.
What is the difference between being in prison and being detained?
Prison usually means confinement as punishment following a criminal conviction. Detention is broader, covering anyone held against their will, including people awaiting trial, immigration cases, or those not yet charged. All prisoners are detained, but not everyone detained is in prison serving a sentence for a crime.
What is an example of a prison?
Facilities range from low-security open prisons, where inmates have relative freedom, to maximum-security institutions holding the most serious offenders. Famous examples include Alcatraz, now closed, and Britain's HM Prison network. Whatever the security level, each is a secure institution designed to hold convicted or awaiting-trial individuals.
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